1) The search for essential beauty products in three-ounce bottles. 2) The game of shove-and-sit when Gram's gift won't fit into that carry-on suitcase. 3) Ok, let's stop before I call off the holiday trip.

Anyone traveling by air for Turkey Day dinner or the winter holidays wants to avoid checking luggage if possible. Have you seen what the airlines are charging to lose your bag these days?

Here's help to arrive at your destination with everything you need to look cute for the whole vacay:

Wear the largest pair of shoes that you are packing. Yes, knee-high boots are a pain to take off in the security line. But consider how much sweater space they'd take up in your suitcase.

Can't find a three-ounce bottle of the cream that is the ONLY thing standing between you and an acne outbreak like you haven't seen since middle school? Relax. Just squirt the amount you need for a few days in an empty contact lenses case. Fits right into the quart size Zip-lock baggie.

Don't have room in your purse for airplane reading, Aunt Sue's gift, and an emergency ration of peanuts now that they don't serve free food on planes? Fear not. Grab a spacious tote to carry everything on. You're still allowed a small suitcase under the "two carry-on items" rule. Drop your smaller purse inside the tote if the flight attendants are being persnickety about enforcing it.

About the bloggers

Looking for shopping deals in Tampa Bay? The Deal Divas are on the prowl, sniffing out hot fashion finds that won't leave your wallet in ruins. Now you never have to miss a shopping deal! Check in often for the lowdown on local bargains, as well as fashion advice, fun photos and style news. Disclaimer: The content of this blog is produced by the editorial staff of the Times and is not tied to advertising. E-mail us ideas you'd like us to write about.

Stephanie Hayes , addicted to heels for 15 years, has been experimenting with ballet flats, boots and cute sneakers lately. Her poor, tired feet thank her. She can never get enough animal print, and her eye shadow collection has become a bit of a hoard. While other kids were reciting multiplication tables, she was learning to calculate an extra third off the half-price discount during buy-one-get-one week. She knows a healthy swipe of red lipstick can make any outfit better. She can be reached at (813) 226-3394 or shayes@tampabay.com.

Katie Sanders foolishly spurned pretty dresses and shoes as a child, tossing new clothes over her shoulder at birthday parties with a totally rude "no, thank you." Her drab days of monocolor outfits are over now, and she certainly knows better than to turn down free stuff. Her wardrobe mixes classic with quirk. Think blazers with statement necklaces, and lots of patterned ballet flats. She can be reached at (850) 224-7263 or ksanders@tampabay.com..

Kameel Stanley has never encountered a thrift store she didn’t like. Her mother taught her that the true value of clothes isn’t how much they cost, but how many outfits one can create from them. Having grown up in Michigan, she was delighted to learn upon moving to Florida that she almost never needed to wear socks or boots again. There’s a lot of turnover in her closet, and she’s obsessed with dresses, necklaces and wedge heels. She can be reached at (727) 893-8643 or kstanley@tampabay.com.

From camo pants and construction boots to sundresses, sweaters and sling backs, Keyonna Summers knows how to make all of it rock -- at rock bottom prices. A Detroit native, Keyonna delves into her urban roots to find fashion pairings that give a nod to street fashion while maintaining the class of the modern, professional woman. She believes in searching for affordable clothes that look expensive and can easily be dressed up or down. You won't find plaid shirts or fleece jackets in her closet; the only hiking Keyonna does is to the bargain basement. She can be reached at (727) 445-4153 or ksummers@tampabay.com.